Rose smiled and said, “I prefer to think my name is symbolic with rosewood, the type used in musical instruments.”
Jack smiled. Good, she has a sense of humour.
“Checking to see if I have a sense of humour, are you?” asked Rose.
Jack felt slightly taken back. Okay, lady. One point for you. He gave a quick grin in response.
“Do you two always come in so early?” asked Rose. “I’m aware that you both worked an undercover operation over the weekend and worked late last night. I didn’t expect to see you today.”
“We had planned on working an afternoon shift, but thought we should honour you with our presence for your first day here,” replied Jack.
“I see,” she replied. “A couple of brown-nosers.”
Jack chuckled and replied, “If you think that about us, I suggest you ask our previous boss. He might disagree.”
Rose smiled and said, “That would be Staff Quaile. Yes, I heard about your relationship with him.”
“You’ve done your homework,” said Jack.
“It wasn’t hard. Rather curious, really.”
“Oh?” asked Jack.
“Are either of you aware of where I was supposed to be transferred to?”
“I only know that you came from Toronto and worked on terrorism,” said Laura.
“Yes. The Integrated National Security Enforcement Team, or INSET as it is called. Up until a week ago I thought I was being transferred to Commercial Crime.”
“I heard that there had been a last-minute change,” replied Jack. “I didn’t hear why.”
“I thought I was being transferred under a cloud. Back east, I was criticized by the brass for gathering intelligence at a commercial location. They said it did not meet the judicial criteria in regard to a search.”
“Searching a place after office hours without a warrant?” suggested Jack.
Rose stared at him for a moment before replying, “It seems you’ve done your homework, as well.”
Jack shrugged in response.
“For the record,” continued Rose, “my watch was wrong. I didn’t realize the office was closed for the night as opposed to an employee having stepped out for a moment. It didn’t help that someone left the door unlocked. It could have been by the same janitor who was sleeping in an office across the hall and happened upon me. It complicated matters further when he later decided to call headquarters to verify my credentials.”
“I see,” replied Jack.
“I bet you do,” she said, with a face that made Jack think she played poker. He mulled over her choice of words to describe the unlocked door. It could have been by the same janitor … meaning in theory, it could have been … but sure as hell wasn’t.
“Did they say why they changed the transfer?” asked Laura.
“That is the curious part. Last week, when I got a call from Staffing, they sounded a little miffed.”
“Miffed?” asked Laura.
“Staffing said Assistant Commissioner Isaac intervened and I was being re-routed to Intelligence. Rather unusual to have someone interfere with Staffing like that. Do you know anything about it?”
“No,” replied Jack.
“Last Friday afternoon I was called in for a short meeting with Isaac.”
“Oh, really?” said Jack, feeling like the cup of dark-roasted black Starbucks coffee he had on the way to work wasn’t such a good idea for an empty stomach.
“Yes, really,” replied Rose, staring back at him.
“Guess he wouldn’t have called you in on a day off just to welcome you to the section,” said Jack, fishing for more information.
“He welcomed me, but spent most of his time discussing you,” she replied. “I had the distinct impression he feels — well, let’s just say he feels you need a little more experience at testifying in court.”
Jack was confused. “We’re on an Intelligence Section. We’re supposed to avoid court when we can, gather intelligence, and turn the results over to the appropriate section to investigate further. They’re the ones who normally make arrests, seize evidence, and go to court.”
“I’m aware of that,” replied Rose. “However, Isaac is concerned that it is the coroner who most often receives the results of your work.”
Laura looked down ostensibly to examine a hangnail.
“Oh, that,” replied Jack, sounding casual. “There have been a couple of individuals I was working on who fell victim to the people they were associating with. Isaac once suspected I had something to do with the death of a man in Mexico. The man was someone I was working on. I happened to be in Mexico on my honeymoon at the time. Isaac looked into it and discovered that the death was the result of an accidental drowning. He apologized to me personally once he discovered his error. I’m surprised he would mention it. It was simply a coincidence.”
“So he told me,” replied Rose. “How interesting you should use the word ‘coincidence.’ He said you could be nicknamed ‘The Coincidental Corporal.’”
“What are —” Jack started to say defiantly.
“Hold on,” interjected Rose, putting her hand up for him to stop. “Laura, this is obviously making you uncomfortable. Would you mind leaving us for a moment? I’ll want to talk with you later.”
“What are you trying to say?” asked Jack, as soon as Laura left the office. “What is Isaac insinuating?”
“Oh, I don’t think he was insinuating,” said Rose, pursing her lips, eyes locked onto his.
Jack returned her gaze and decided not to respond to that comment.
“He revealed only the facts as he knew them,” she continued. “No evidence of wrongdoing on your part was noted, although he tended to overuse the phrase ‘by coincidence’ when describing you. In fact, he made it clear that there has never been any … what’s the word he used? … oh, yes … credible evidence or confirmation of any wrongdoing on your part.”
Jack sighed and took a moment to mull over what he had been told before asking, “What is he suggesting? Where do I stand with him?”
“I did get the distinct impression that it would make him happy if you brought one in alive.”
Jack nodded silently.
“You should also know I wasn’t asked to rat on you.”
“Thanks. Nice to know.”
“But he did make it clear that he goes by the book and would take immediate action if any evidence of wrongdoing came to light.”
“Fair enough. I would expect nothing less.”
Rose snickered.
“What’s so amusing?” asked Jack.
“That is exactly what Isaac said you would say.”
Ouch! “So, where do I stand with you on all this?”
Rose smiled and said, “By coincidence, I had said exactly the same thing as you — that I would expect nothing less.”
“Glad we’re on the same page,” replied Jack.
Rose didn’t immediately reply, but, after straightening a pile of reports on her desk, she